Immigration

Photo of the office of Literacy, ESL, and Immigration Services located at the Downtown Central Library. Click on the photo to visit the page.

The Glendale City Council has taken the formal step and supported the Glendale Police Department’s statement on immigration. Following the 2016 presidential election and subsequent executive order from the administration, community members shared concern for their neighbors and families. The Glendale Police Department released a statement that affirmed the department’s role as protectors of public safety, not federal immigration officials. In a show of support for this policy, the Glendale City Council officially adopted the statement as part of a resolution voted on at the March 28, 2017 meeting.

The federal government has the exclusive authority to enforce the civil provisions of federal immigration law relating to issues such as admission, exclusion, and deportation. Current law generally allows the federal government to permit, but not require, the assistance of local officials in such efforts.

To calm community member fears regarding the executive order, the Glendale Police Department released the following statement:

The Glendale Police Department does not have the authority nor the responsibility to incarcerate or detain individuals solely based on immigration status. Our fundamental duties are based on public safety — serving the community, while focusing efforts primarily on crime prevention and law enforcement. Our responsibility is to protect the lives of the community we are sworn to serve and honor the principles of democracy upon which this country was founded.

The statement not only reflects the core values of the Glendale community, but current police policy which prohibits the detention of any individual for a civil violation of federal immigration laws. The adoption of this resolution reaffirms the the police department’s role as defenders of public safety and its commitment to community based policing. It is the goal of the entire department to enforce the law equally in the community and protect all of the people of Glendale regardless of immigration status.

415.1 THE PURPOSE AND SCOPE
• This policy explains actions Glendale Police should and should not take when investigating and enforcing immigration laws415.2 THE POLICY
• Equal enforcement of the law is an important commitment. Officers are confident in this commitment, which allows them to protect, serve, and recognize the dignity of all persons, regardless of immigration status415.3 HOW DOES GPD INTERACT WITH VICTIMS AND WITNESSES?
• GPD officers ensure individuals—regardless of their immigration status—that they should feel secure contacting or being addressed by law enforcement. 415.4 HOW DOES GPD HANDLE A REPORT OF A SUSPECT IMMIGRATION VIOLATION?
• Members of the public who report suspected immigration violations to the GPD are directed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)415.4.1 CIVIL VS. CRIMINAL FEDERAL OFFENSES (Refer to complete policy for definitions)415.4.2 IMMIGRATION CHECKS
• Only three types of officers can ask about status: law enforcement authorized by the federal government, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• No individual should continue to be detained due to unresolved questions about that individual’s immigration status415.4.3 A SUPERVISOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES (Refer to complete policy for responsibilities)
415.5 WHEN DOES GPD NOTIFY ICE?
• GPD does not notify ICE when booking arrestees at the county jail. GPD may notify ICE when a police officer has arrested a person for a drug trafficking offense.415.7 CAN GPD SHARE INFORMATION WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES?
• GPD may send status information to, or receive or send information from government entities415.7.1 HOLDS
• It is GPD policy not to hold someone in custody for a civil immigration violation415.7.2 WHAT TO DO IF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WANTS AN INTERVIEW
• GPD provides a written consent form to explain the purpose of the interview, that the interview is voluntary and that an individual may decline415.7.3 GPD KEEPS INDIVIDUALS INFORMED
• GPD must be given a copy of documentation received from ICE regarding a hold, notification or transfer request along with GPD’s intention to comply or not to comply with ICE’s request415.8 U VISA AND T VISA
• GPD can provide temporary immigration benefits by issuing of a U Visa to victims and witness of certain qualifying crimes or a T Visa to certain qualifying victims of human trafficking415.9 WHO RECIEVES IMMIGRATION TRAINING?
• All appropriate members of GPD receive immigration training